Movements of female lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) around Iceland

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) migrate from their offshore feeding areas to the coastal areas of Iceland during March and April where they remain for several months before spawning. Their movements during this time are poorly documented. Using the results of an extensive tag-recapture study (the largest documented for lumpfish) which took place between 2008 and 2014, the movement of female lumpfish around Iceland was investigated and the implications for fisheries management were considered. Of 9710 female fish tagged, 880 were recaptured and 82 of these were recaptured after more than 250 days at liberty (DAL). There was a negative relationship between length at tagging and recapture rate indicating that between 2008 and 2014, the fishery was selecting for smaller fish. Lumpfish showed extensive movements with fish tagged in coastal areas being recaptured up to 587 km from their tagging location and were capable of swimming up to 49 km day(-1). Fish were most frequently caught in the area in which they were tagged; however, movement between areas was common. There were indications of homing behaviour with 75% of the fish, which were recaptured after 250 DAL, caught within 80 km of their tagging location. Fish which were tagged offshore before the fishing season showed no clear pattern of where they would be recaptured. These extensive movements and homing behaviour are discussed in the context of the management of the lumpfish fishery.